System Administrator
A System Administrator is responsible for managing, troubleshooting, and ensuring the proper operation of an organization's computer systems and networks.
Top Articles for System Administrator
Sample Job Descriptions for System Administrator
Below are the some sample job descriptions for the different experience levels, where you can find the summary of the role, required skills, qualifications, and responsibilities.
Junior (0-2 years of experience)
Summary of the Role
As a Junior Senior System Administrator, you will play a critical role maintaining and managing the IT systems within the organization. You will collaborate with senior IT staff to ensure systems are running efficiently, securely, and are up to date. You must exhibit a strong desire to learn and grow in the field of system administration and IT infrastructure.
Required Skills
- Ability to work well in a team environment.
- Strong communication skills.
- Problem-solving attitude.
- Willingness to be on-call as required.
- Ability to quickly learn new or unfamiliar technology and products using documentation and internet resources.
- A disciplined approach to system management that includes following and creating procedures.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, System Administration, or a closely related field, or equivalent experience.
- Certifications such as Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA), CompTIA Server+, or similar.
- Strong knowledge of system vulnerabilities and security issues.
- Basic understanding of networking protocols, such as TCP/IP, DHCP, SMTP, LDAP, NFS, etc.
- Previous experience with databases, networks (LAN, WAN), and patch management.
- Familiarity with backup and recovery software and methodologies.
Responsibilities
- Assist in the maintenance, configuration, and reliable operation of computer systems, network servers, and virtualization.
- Implement system enhancements that will improve the reliability and performance of the system.
- Monitor system performance and troubleshoot issues ensuring system availability and reliability.
- Manage user accounts, permissions, email, anti-virus, and anti-spam.
- Ensure data is backed up and verified for any disaster recovery plans.
- Update systems with new releases and models.
- Develop and maintain installation and configuration procedures.
- Collaborate with other teams and team members to provide technical support and assistance.
Intermediate (2-5 years of experience)
Summary of the Role
The Senior System Administrator will be responsible for managing and ensuring the optimal operation of our organization's computer systems and server infrastructure. This role includes overseeing system performance, configuring new software and hardware, and providing technical support and guidance to other IT staff members.
Required Skills
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to manage time and resources effectively to meet deadlines.
- Technical expertise in the administration of networked Windows and/or Linux server environments.
- Familiarity with cloud services (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and virtualization technologies.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality with regards to the information being processed, stored, or accessed by the network.
Qualifications
- Proven experience as a System Administrator or similar role, with at least 2-5 years of experience in a mid-size to large organization.
- Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field, or equivalent work experience.
- Strong understanding of computer network infrastructure and system administration.
- Experience with databases, networks (LAN, WAN), and patch management.
- Knowledge of system security techniques and best practices.
- Certifications such as Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA), CompTIA Server+, or equivalent are highly desirable.
Responsibilities
- Oversee and manage the daily operations of the organization's IT infrastructure including server hardware, software, and associated networks.
- Configure, maintain, and troubleshoot server and network hardware, software, and operating systems.
- Ensure system connectivity of all servers, shared software, groupware, and other applications.
- Create and maintain a disaster recovery plan for the organization's IT systems.
- Implement network security measures to protect data, software, and hardware.
- Regularly analyze system performance and carry out necessary upgrades and maintenance to ensure optimal system reliability and performance.
- Collaborate with IT team members and other departments to facilitate the smooth operation of all IT-related functions within the company.
- Provide technical support and guidance to users and respond to escalated issues in a timely manner.
Senior (5+ years of experience)
Summary of the Role
As a Senior System Administrator, you will be responsible for maintaining, upgrading and managing our company's hardware, software, and networks. Your goal will be to ensure that our technology infrastructure runs smoothly and efficiently.
Required Skills
- Expertise in creating and managing virtual environments
- Strong knowledge of networking protocols, such as TCP/IP, DNS, SMTP, etc.
- Proficiency with scripting and automation tools
- Excellent organizational and leadership abilities
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
- Attention to detail and mastery of information analysis
- Continuous learning to keep up-to-date with the latest technologies and best practices
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, System Administration, or a closely related field, or equivalent experience
- Certifications in Microsoft, Linux, Cisco, or similar technologies
- Experience with databases, networks (LAN, WAN) and patch management
- Knowledge of system security and data backup/recovery
- Familiarity with various operating systems and platforms
- Experience with cloud services, including public, private, and hybrid cloud environments
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Proven ability to lead and manage a team of IT personnel
Responsibilities
- Oversee the management of multiple servers and associated hardware, ensuring system security, stability, and performance
- Automate routine operational tasks to improve efficiency and reduce human error
- Manage network configurations to ensure the integrity of high-availability network infrastructures
- Provide specialized technical support and guidance to other team members and departments
- Coordinate and lead the response to system outages or interruptions, including after-hours emergency situations
- Develop and enforce IT policies and procedures to ensure consistent system administration practices
- Perform system backups, disaster recovery operations, and risk assessments
- Consult on IT infrastructure planning and development for future company growth
- Monitor system performance, track usage, and forecast needs to procure resources in a timely and cost-effective manner
See other roles in Science and Technology and Technology
Sample Interview Questions
